Feature
What is a Kanban board?
A Kanban board is a visual method that organizes tasks into columns representing their status — to do, in progress, done — so a team can track progress at a glance.
How does a Kanban board work?
Each task is represented as a card, moved from one column to the next as it progresses. Columns represent stages in the workflow and can be customized to match how a given team actually works.
Why use a Kanban board?
It gives a clear view of work in progress, limits how many tasks are handled at once, and keeps teams aligned without needing a standing status meeting.
Real-world example
A technical support team can run a Kanban board with columns for "Tickets received," "In progress," and "Resolved," so every technician can see their own workload and their teammates' at a glance.
What are the pros and cons of Kanban?
Kanban is simple to set up and understand, even without training. Its limit: it doesn't show due dates or task dependencies, which makes it less suited to projects with a strict deadline — a job the Gantt chart handles better.
Key takeaways
- Visual task organization by status, in columns.
- Originated from Toyota's production system in the 1940s–50s.
- Complements the Gantt chart rather than replacing it.
Visual Planning offers customizable Kanban boards to track your tasks and field jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the word "kanban" come from?
Kanban is a Japanese word meaning "signboard" or "visual card," originating from Toyota's production system in the 1940s and 1950s.
Does Kanban replace the Gantt chart?
No, they serve different purposes: Kanban tracks task status, while a Gantt chart tracks tasks against time.
Is Kanban good for field service scheduling?
Yes, it's often used to track field jobs by status: to be scheduled, in progress, closed.
How many columns should a Kanban board have?
There's no fixed number: three columns are often enough (to do, in progress, done), though some teams add intermediate stages to match their own process.
Related terms
Gantt Chart
Workflow
Field Service Management
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